Bronx Bombers Blog

The once long-haired, scruffy Red Sox has now switched from the Nation to the Empire. On December 21, Damon and the Yankees agreed to a 4 year $52 Million contract making Damon the Yanks new center fielder. Damon stated the Yankees' aggressiveness as a major factor in his decision to move from Fe(image) nway Park to Yankee Stadium. "We know George Steinbrenner's reputation; he always wants to have the best players and I think he showed that tonight," Damon told WBZ. "He and Brian Cashman came after me hard and now I'm part of the Yankees and that great lineup. We're going to be a tough team to beat." The Yankees have also aquired relief pitchers, Kyle Farnsworth, Ron Villone, Mike Meyers, and Octavio Dotel to improve the bullpen. The Yanks also resigned longtime outfielder Bernie Williams to a one year contract. Williams will have a small role this coming year, but he will at least be on the team. Damon was officially introduced as a Yankee on December 23. Damon was doning the new pinstripes, along with a cleanly shaven face and a nice trim haircut. "This is a very exciting day for me," said Damon, who signed a four-year, $52 million contract. "This team really wanted me, and I'm ready to run through walls for them." George Steinbrenner said "He looks like a Yankee, he sounds like a Yankee and he is a Yankee."Damon said at the press conference. Just like many Yankee fans, Joe Torre didn't see this coming. "I never envisioned this," Torre said. "You can dream about it, you can hope it would happen, but especially coming here from the Red Sox after what he established there, I didn't see that happening." Damon will be the leadoff hitter for the Yankees, while Jeter will move to the second slot, and A-Rod to third. "We have a lot of key components already here," Damon said. "I'm not coming in here as a savior; I'm a piece of the puzzle."

Today the Yankees announced today that they have recalled left-handed pitcher Wayne Franklin from Triple-A Columbus. Franklin has a 2-2 record with one save and 4.13 ERA in 41 games with Columbus this season. Franklin has made 5 appearances with the Yankees and has a 0-1 record with a 12.27 ERA. Franklin has made 124 Major-League appearances in his career, 40 of them starts. He has a 14-16 record with 5.55 ERA in 6 seasons with four different teams. Franklin was signed by the Yankees as a free agent on April 4, 2005.

(image) The New York Yankees have acquired right-hander Shawn Chacon from the Rockies in exchange for a pair of Minor League Pitchers. Chacon is 1-7 with 4.09 ERA for Colorado in 13 games, 12 of them starts. He will be in the Bronx on Friday, and will take the mound on Saturday against the Angels. With Carl Pavano, Jaret Wright, Chien-Ming Wang and Kevin Brown all on the disabled list, the Yankees will use Chacon as a starter until they get healthier. Randy Johnson, Mike Mussina, and Al Leiter are all in the rotation, while Aaron Small has won both of his starts. Chacon has not won since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers on April 23 in his third start of the season. He strained a hamstring running the bases May 26 and was on the disabled list from June 3 to July 6 because of the injury.(image) Manny Ramirez has expressed that he would like to be traded from the Boston Red Sox, because he is not happy there, but Larry Lucchino said it will be difficult because of his contract.According to a report in Sports Illustrated, Ramirez has asked Red Sox officials for the 3rd time four seasons to be traded. He says hes unhappy, and has a lack of privacy off the field. According to the article, Ramirez asked to be traded in 2002, and again in 2003, but when his name came up during a possible trade for Alex Rodriguez late in 2003, he asked to stay.On a radio show, Larry Lucchino stated "It's that time of year, and we'll explore it as we explore other trades." Because Manny will make about $60 million over the remainder of his contract, which expires in 2008, Lucchino said that trading Ramirez would be difficult for Theo Epstein, and especially with just a few days untill the trade deadline. Entering play on Thursday, Ramirez was tied with Alex Rodriguez for the American League lead in home runs with 28. His 92 RBIs led the league.

July 26, 2005 On July 26, the Twins came to Yankee Stadium to start a 3 game series. Randy Johnson had his best start for the Yankees this season. After hitting the lead off batter, The Big Unit struck out 11, allowed only 2 hits, and pitched 8 shutout innings. In the 2nd inning Alex Rodriguez hit a solo homer of the year over the center field wall off Twins pitcher Brad Radke. Rodriguez's homerun was his 28th of the year, and tied him with Boston's Manny Ramirez for the American League lead. Later in the inning Jason Giambi was walked and then moved to 3rd on a single by Bernie Williams, Tino Martinez hit into a fielders choice, to bring Giambi home and make the score 2-0. In the 7th Hideki Matsui hit a 2 run single to leave the game at 4-0. In Tampa Bay, the visiting Red Sox after losing the first game of the series on July 25 on a blown save by the Evil and Unholy Curt Schilling, The Red Sox scored twice in the 1st and 3 more times in the 3rd, making it 5-0. But in the bottom of the 5th, Boston starter Matt Clement was knocked off his feet when he was hit in the head from a line drive by Carl Crwaford. Matt Clement lied on the ground, not moving for about 6 minutes. An ambulance took him to a nearby hospital for CT scans, the scans were negative. But in the bottom of the 3rd, Tampa tied the game at 5, and scored 1 in the 6th to take the lead...for a while. In the 7th the Sox tied it again, and then in the bottom of the inning the Rays scored 2, then in the 9th the Red Sox got 2 runs across, and the game went to extra innings. Boston scored 2 more in the top of the 10th, while Tampa only scored once, the final score was 10-9 Red Sox.July 27, 2005The reigning Cy Young award winner, Johan Santana was on the mound for the Twins, as the inconsistant Al Leiter was pitching for the Yanks. Al Leiter got out of a few jams, he loaded the bases once in the 1st and again in the 2nd, but got out of them with no runs. He pitched 5 innings, giving up 7 hits, 5 walks, but suprisingly only 1 run. The run was scored in the top of the third. In the bottom of the 3rd Derek Jeter, Robinson Cano, and Gary Sheffield hit three straight singles off of Santana, only to see Derek Jeter thrown out at home, to end the inning. In the 7th Yankees Tanyon Sturtze took over pitching, he gave up a double and then a single to bring the runner home, then later in the inning gave up 2 run double, making the score 4-0. In the 8th, the game seemed basically over as Scott Proctor took over for Sturtze and gave up a 2 run homerun to make the score 6-0. But in the bottom of the 8th, Juan Rincon relieved for Santana. Rincon loaded the bases, only to walk Giambi and bring in a run. Tino Martinez then was called safe at 1st on a throwing error, and Sheffield and Matsui scored. Twins closer Joe Nathan came into the game to pitch. The game was 3-6, with 2 men on, and Bernie Williams up to bat. For a brief moment it looked as if Williams had tied the game, hitting a ball to right that just sliced foul, and on the next pitch Bernie struck out swinging. Alex Graman then gave up a solo homer in the 9th, making the score 7-3. The Yankees failed to score in the bottom of the 9th, and lost the game. Johan Santana pitched a jem giving up only 7 hits, walking only 2, striking out 5, and pitching 7 innings of shutout ball. The Red Sox had won their game against Tampa, putting the Yankees 2 games out of first place in the AL East. Matt Clement was released from a Tampa hospital and traveled home with to Boston with the Sox. He is doing fine, but does not know if he will make his next start.July 28, 2005 For only the second time this season, Aaron Small was set to start for the Yankees in place of Kevin Brown who has once again gone on the DL with a bad back. Aaron Small made a case for himself to be a permanent starter in the rotation, pitching 7 innings and only giving up 3 runs. In the first inning, Gary Sheffield who had the day off in the outfield, was playing as DH. With Jeter and C[...]

(image) Alex Rodriguezis turningthe big 3-0 on July 27, but thats not slowing him down. As the Mariners #1 draft pick in 1993, A-Rod, at the young age of 17, was already good enough to be called one of the greatest ameteur players of all time. It took Alex just 2 seasons to make it to the big leagues, he was one of the games youngest players. But not any more, "Being 30 feels old, it sounds old. It's hard to believe." Alex said with a laugh.The Yankees third baseman is in the center of the Yankees offense-first team. With their starting rotation ruined, the Yanks usually need to score 6 or more runs a game to win. A-Rod was quoted as saying, "we, as hitters, all welcome. With this lineup, six runs a game is very possible."Rodriguez is tied in the AL lead in homeruns with Manny Ramirez, is fourth in the AL in batting average and RBI. Joe Torre says Rodriguez is "finally getting comfortable" and he will be the the teams cleanup hitter for now on.Alex Rodriguez at the age of 30, has played in 1,528 games, his career BA is .306, he has 409 homeruns, and 1,176 RBI, with an OBP of .384, and a SLG of .575. All of these are better than any other player has ever had before the age of 30. There is great debate about whether A-Rod with break Hank Aarons homerun record. Whether he breaks it or not, A-Rod has already proven himself, and is on his way to greatness.